In a precedent in Eastern Europe’s post-communist history, on 24 July 2001 Bulgaria’s exiled monarch Simeon II of Sax-Coburg-Ghota took an oath as Prime Minister in front of the republican Bulgarian Constitution. According to his own words, a sense of duty to his motherland stood behind his will to enter politics at the age of 63. Silencing the doubtful, he chose to announce his decision to become Prime Minister on 11 July, the day of the 10th anniversary of the promulgation of the 1991 Constitution. This was a message of commitment to observe the rules of the parliamentary republic.